Sloane's pov

I woke up to the buzz of my phone. It wouldn't stop vibrating with texts from old friends. Links to articles flooded in, each one worse than the last.

One message said, "Sloane, have you seen this?" I clicked and the headline hit me hard. "Sloan Harper dumps Billionaire Hubby – Will She Beg for Mercy?" it read.

I scrolled through the words that stung like knives. They called me a fool and a gold digger gone wrong. Bets were on that I'd crawl back to Adrian soon.

Photos from our old galas popped up, me smiling beside him. Now they twisted everything to make me look weak. My stomach churned at the mockery.

Daisy stirred in her crib nearby. "Mum?" she mumbled, rubbing her sleepy eyes. I picked her up and held her close.

"Shh, baby, it's okay," I whispered. But inside, my thoughts raced wildly. Why do they care so much about my life?

I turned off the phone to block it all out.

Days blurred into each other quickly. I kept the curtains drawn tight. Daisy played with toys on the worn rug.

I made simple peanut butter sandwiches for us. We watched cartoons together on the old TV. "Look, Mum! Funny dog!" she'd giggle.

I nodded and forced a smile. But my mind kept whispering doubts. This is just hiding, not really living.

The mail arrived in stacks every day, bills and junk mostly filled them. One thick envelope stood out from a university.

I opened it with curious hands. A letter from Professor Evelyn Hart waited inside. "Dear Ms. Harper, I've followed your environmental law work," it began.

She offered a researcher job at her firm. "Part-time to start, call me," it said. I stared at the paper in surprise.

A job for me after all this mess? I thought. I dialed her number right away. "Hello?" her voice came sharp and direct.

"This is Sloane Harper about the job." "Ah, Sloane, good, come in tomorrow." We set a time to talk.

I hung up and looked at Daisy coloring. "We're going somewhere new, sweetie." She smiled up at me brightly.

Next morning, I dressed in my old suit. It hung loose on my frame now. Daisy tugged at my sleeve gently.

"Where are we going, Mum?" she asked. "To see a lady about work." I kissed her soft forehead.

We took the bus to the firm. The building was brick with books everywhere, I met Evelyn at the door promptly.

Gray hair and glasses framed her face. "Sloane, sit down here." I sat with Daisy on my lap.

"Tell me why you want this job." "I need to start over for her." I nodded toward my daughter.

She leaned back in her chair. "Divorce is tough, tabloids make it worse." I clenched my jaw tight.

Don't pity me, please, I thought. "But you're smart, your thesis was solid." "Start Monday on research grants."

I blinked in disbelief. "Really, just like that?" "Yes, pay's not much but it's yours."

We shook hands across the desk and I walked out into the sun. This could actually work for us.

Back home, I made simple pasta, Daisy splashed happily in the bath, My mind felt lighter somehow.

No more living in Adrian's shadow.The doorbell rang suddenly, a package waited with no sender listed.

I opened it carefully inside, a note in Adrian's handwriting appeared. "Sloane, heard you're slumming it now."

"Pitiful, take this check and obey." "More comes if you follow rules for Daisy." A big check fluttered out.

My hands shook with anger. Obey like some trained dog? I ripped the note to pieces.

Tore the check apart too, scraps fell to the floor. Daisy peeked from the bathroom.

"Mama mad?" she asked softly. I knelt down to her level. "No, baby, Mama's strong now."

"We'll have a better life, I promise." She hugged me tight. I held her even tighter.

Weeks passed in a steady rhythm, so I started the job at the firm. Sat at a desk piled with papers.

Evelyn barked orders my way. "Read this report, notes by noon." I typed fast with ideas flowing.

This feels good and useful again, coworkers whispered behind my back,"That's her from the news?"

I ignored their stares completely, focused only on my work. One lunch, Evelyn sat with me.

"How's it going so far?" "Fine, just getting settled." I sipped my coffee slowly.

"Tabloids still hounding you?" I shrugged it off. "They'll stop eventually, I hope."

She nodded in approval. "Good attitude, keep it up," After work, I picked up Daisy.

From daycare, she ran to me. "Mum! I drew a house!" I looked at her stick figures.

Two of us in the picture. "Nice work, sweetie." We walked home through quiet streets.

Trees rustled in the breeze. Inside, I checked the mail pile. Another plain envelope waited.

I opened it with caution, photos of me and Daisy inside. From the park last week.

Back of one said, "Watching you always." "Come back or else." My heart pounded hard.

Adrian doing this to me? I locked the door quickly, Checked all the windows too.

Daisy yawned from her room. "Story time now, Mum?" I read to her steadily.

But my thoughts screamed inside. Who's out there watching us? The next day at work, I buried in files before me.

The phone buzzed with an unknown number, I answered it hesitantly. "Sloane," Adrian's voice came smooth.

Cold tone chilled me through. "What do you want now?" "You tore my generous offer."

"Mistake on your part." Laughter echoed in my ear. "Can't leave you alone."

"Daisy's mine too, remember." "She's safe with me only." "We'll see about that soon."

Click, the line went dead, I gripped the phone tight. Threat or just a bluff?

Evelyn walked by my desk. "You okay there, Sloane?" "Yeah, fine," I lied.

I worked late that evening, Ideas for clean energy laws. Home later, Daisy already asleep.

I sat up watching the door. Morning brought loud knocking, I peeked through the peephole.

Police uniform stood outside. "Ms. Harper?" "Yes, that's me."

"Custody papers from Mr. Adrian" "Hearing next week, ma'am." I took the folder numbly.

He's coming for her now, so I closed the door slowly and leaned against it heavily.

Daisy called from her room. "Mum, come here?" "Coming, baby," I said.

But panic rose inside me. What now, fight or run? Work that day blurred badly.

I typed reports with mistakes. Evelyn noticed right away. "Sloane, focus on this."

"Sorry, I'll fix it." After, I called a lawyer friend. "Help me with this."

"Send the papers over now." I scanned them quickly. Sent them via email.

Waiting, I paced the floor, I watched Daisy play unaware. The phone rang with my friend.

"Bad news, he's claiming unstable”, “Tabloids as proof against you." Unstable, that's me now?

"What can I do here?" "Gather evidence of stability." "Your job helps a lot."

I nodded to myself. "Okay, I'll do that." Hung up and hugged Daisy.

Days ticked by slowly. I worked even harder now. Notes came out perfect daily.

Evelyn praised my efforts. "Good job on this." But nights, sleep evaded me.

I watched shadows on the walls One evening, a storm raged outside. Thunder boomed loud overhead.

Daisy cried in her bed, I held her close. "It's okay, just noise."

The doorbell rang late at night, Who could it be? I looked through the peephole.

Man in suit stood there. Adrian's lawyer maybe? "Open up, Sloane," he said.

I froze in place, No, not now. He knocked even louder.

Daisy whimpered beside me. I grabbed my phone quick. Finger hovered over 911.

He shouted through the door. "We need to talk now." "About Daisy and custody."

Talk or try to take her? Lightning flashed bright outside. Power flickered in the room.

The door rattled with force, and I backed away slowly. "Go away right now!"

Silence fell suddenly, Then a note slid under, I picked it up carefully.

"Last chance or court wins." I crumpled it tight, but doubt crept in deep.

Can I really win this? He's always so powerful.